MELBOURNE, Australia -- Andre Agassi hinted Tuesday that he and wife Steffi Graf could team up in the mixed doubles at the Australian Open next year.
Tennis's first couple were scheduled to play mixed doubles
at last year's French Open after Agassi bet his wife he would
win the 2003 Australian Open title, which he did. But Graf became pregnant.
"I sort of jumped the gun last year," Agassi said after
winning through to the semifinals at Melbourne Park on Tuesday
with a 6-2, 2-0 victory over Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean, who
retired injured.
"But I guess she still owes us one. I won the bet here last
year, so it didn't make much sense to do it in Paris. Maybe
we'll do it back here."
Last year, the 33-year-old American famously promised that
he and Graf would play their own version of 'Mr and Mrs' in
Paris.
But Graf, now 34, was unable to keep her end of the bargain
because she was carrying their second child, daughter Jaz who was
born in October.
The pair married in October 2001, the same month Graf gave
birth to their son Jaden Gil.
Graf, who won 22 grand slam singles titles, retired from
tennis in August 1999 and has not played since. She entered the
mixed doubles at Wimbledon with John McEnroe in 1999, reaching
the semifinals.
Agassi insisted, however, that he would be
making no firm promises about next year without first consulting
Graf.
"Listen, you can count on something: I'm not going to say
anything that's going to get any sideways looks when I walk
through the front door," joked Agassi.
"Steffi can say more without saying anything. It's just a
great ability to have. If I could imitate that look, I'd have it
on the tennis court."